Jane Millionaire

“Tell me about your friends.” He flashed a grin. “I doubt your best friend is as ornery as JP.”

“No. My partner on the force is my best friend.” Although things had been a bit rough right after Dan had given the “Let’s just be friends” spiel, he was still her dearest friend and she his. Too bad his latest girlfriend wasn’t overly thrilled by their continued closeness. Dan’s overtly jealous girlfriend. Just another reason she’d wanted to leave California for a while.

“How many female officers are there in San Padres?”

“Just one. It’s a small community. Very quiet and family oriented. A great place for raising a family.” Jeeze, she sounded like a walking ad for the San Padres Chamber of Commerce. What was she trying to do, convince him to move there?

“Just one?” He turned toward her, his brows drawn together. “Your best friend is a man?”

“He likes to think he is,” she teased, wondering why they’d stopped walking and why he didn’t look pleased.

“Is he your lover?”

She inhaled deeply and faced him. Her breath caught. His eyes swirled with a mixture of disbelief that he’d asked the question and downright male curiosity. He wanted to know and fool that she was, she wanted to tell him.

“Not anymore. I’m not involved with anyone.” She laughed although the sound came out as fake. Her insides churned in what she’d guess had to be called feminine coyness. Rob’s blatant sexual interest reduced her to a sniveling idiot. “I wouldn’t be here if I had someone waiting on me at home.”

“Good point.” He glanced around, almost nervously, which didn’t fit with his usual confident air. Maybe she wasn’t the only one sniveling? His stance tightened. “We should head back. Gregory will be looking for you.”

Had she just heard a loud thump as he’d slammed those walls up between them? She sighed, free to take chances and enjoy life or not, she didn’t need to forget that there were some chances she couldn’t take. One slip up, she and Jessie would be in a whole heap of hot water.

“Yes, you’re probably right.” But she’d really rather keep walking with Rob and ignoring the little voice warning her that spending time with Rob was riskier than facing an armed robber. “Tell me, how is it that a famous big screen producer is working on a reality television show?”

“I’m not that famous.”

She snickered. “Yeah right. Since when?”

Rob chuckled. “Had you ever heard of me before you auditioned for Jane Millionaire?”

“I remember hearing the girls talk about you when I was in college. You starred in some young romance movie that was all the rage. But I’ve never seen any of your shows. I’m not a big TV or movie person.” Sports had been her life. Watching a movie would have required sitting still too long.

“Really?” He sent her a look of mock horror.

“I rarely watch anything more than the late night news. Too busy working and doing volunteer work.”

“Good thing there aren’t more people like you in the world or I’d be out of a job.” He grinned and the tension from moments before eased. “What kind of volunteer work?”

“I teach self-defense classes to women and am involved in San Padres High School’s after school drug-prevention program, among other things. But somehow I think you already know all these things about me. They would have been listed in my bio information, right?”

“Yes, I read about your extracurricular activities.” He grinned. “Still, I find your volunteer work interesting. Noble, even.”

“Necessary.”

“In quiet, family-oriented San Padres?” His tone teased. She reached out and punched his shoulder without putting any force behind the blow.

“Even in the most serene of settings, you just never know when someone’s going to knock you off your feet.” She tossed him a challenging look, like he’d better watch out or he might find himself on the ground. Of course, that being the case, she’d be right there with him. “I’ll race you back. First one to touch the castle wins. Loser has to buy the first round at the tavern tonight.”

“You’re on.”

They bolted toward the castle.

After slapping her hands against the cold stone wall of the castle, Jill doubled over with laughter and the need to catch her breath. “Who won?”

“I did.” Laughter and breathlessness inflected his words.

“No, you didn’t.”

“Yes, I did.” He laughed. “But I’ll be a gentleman and spring for the first round tonight anyway. I’m a gracious winner.”